Himachal minister resigns amid high drama in House

Himachal Pradesh health minister Rajeev Bindal, facing allegations of corruption from Congress, denied the charges but submitted his resignation to chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Monday.

Refuting allegations of “amassing immovable assets”, Bindal told the state Assembly, “I am resigning from the Cabinet.”

Ruckus broke out in the House over the issue of assets allegedly acquired by Bindal and his family since he became minister in January 2008. Congress members also staged a walkout after disrupting House proceedings.

Bindal said he will place before the House the documents to show that all his assets were legally acquired.

Earlier, Bindal, who made a point-by-point rebuttal of the charges against him, went up to the table of chief minister Dhumal and handed over his resignation.

Dhumal said it was not the first time that the charges have been brought up against Bindal, and his resignation was an emotional outburst.

“But if there is anything new in them, we will look into investigate,” said Dhumal.

CM mum on resignation

He did not say whether he has accepted or rejected the resignation.

Leader of opposition Vidya Stokes was on her feet immediately after the House assembled, and wanted to know about the fate of the adjournment motion regarding corruption charges against Bindal by Himachal Lokhit Party leaders. This was even before the Question Hour started.

Speaker Tulsi Ram said the adjournment motion could not be accepted as it was not an urgent matter, and read out some rulings to buttress his contention.

Then Congress leaders stormed into the well of the House and created a ruckus.